Blatter tempts fate with Solutions Committee

ZURICH - FIFA president Sepp Blatter may have been tempting fate when he baptised his new anti-corruption watchdog the Solutions Committee because there is a considerable risk it will fail to live up to its name.

The creation of the less-than-imaginatively named committee was one of three measures announced by Blatter following his re-election on Wednesday but none offered much hope of real change in football's beleaguered world governing body.

Blatter's fourth and final mandate could also see the 75-year-old face internal divisions as he battles to push reform through a federation where many members still believe nothing needs fixing.

He will also have to deal with the powerful, wealthy European clubs who are becoming increasingly agitated at FIFA's perceived heavy-handedness.

Blatter, re-elected unopposed after his opponent Mohamed Bin Hammam withdrew from the race amid cash-for-votes allegations, likes to see FIFA as a force for good which uses the sport to promote social and education programmes across the world.

But instead of being lauded for its social conscience, Blatter had to listen to a stinging reproach from the president of his own country who urged FIFA to "take seriously the many criticisms voiced about corruption and a lack of transparency.

"It is of the utmost importance because your organisation should be an example not only to young people but to the world," Micheline Calmy-Rey said in her address to the opening of the FIFA Congress.

"Let not money spoil your ideals."

THREE MEASURES

Blatter, himself cleared on Sunday after allegations that he had behaved unethically in the presidential race, appeared stung into action by that as he pushed through three measures immediately after his re-election.

The first was to change the way World Cup hosts are chosen, increasing the electoral college from the 24-man executive committee to the 208-member Congress, reversing a change made in the mid-1970s.

However, with the 2022 World Cup hosts already decided, this change will not have any effect for at least seven to eight years while the executive committee still has a role in drawing up a short-list of suitable candidates.

Blatter then went on to announce changes to the ethics committee, separating the investigation process from the final decision-making, and the creation of the Solutions Committee as a general watchdog.

Neither of these moves are likely to placate the many observers who believe an external investigation into FIFA's affairs is needed.

It proposed clear rules on how to deal with allegations of corruption, the appointment of an ombudsman, a review of the existing code of ethics, compliance clauses for all contracts and a review of the process by which television rights and sponsorship contracts are awarded.

Blatter's only concession was that outsiders may be brought in "if necessary" with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, 88, and former Dutch international player Johan Cruyff named as two possible advisors.

RUMMENIGGE THREAT

Blatter's claims that FIFA was unified looked questionable after 17 associations voted in favour of postponing Wednesday's election and a further 17 abstained.

But a bigger threat comes from the wealthy and powerful European clubs, led by former West Germany forward Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who want a bigger slice of the World Cup cake and fewer international fixtures.

"The recent happenings have once more proven that FIFA needs a change in its whole structure," said Rummenigge, chairman of the European Club Assocation.

"I request FIFA to immediately introduce democratic and transparent structures and procedures. European clubs will no longer accept that they do not participate in the decision-making when it comes to club-related matters.

"We will... take appropriate measures, if there is no improvement."

Blatter, who showed no inclination to support his long-time allies Qatari Bin Hammam and Trinidadian Jack Warner when they were suspended by the ethics committee on Sunday, may have to break more alliances if he wants to carry through his reforms.

Bin Hammam and Warner have denied any wrongdoing.

Despite a series of damaging revelations recently, some of them from FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer, there are clearly a large number of FIFA members who see the allegations as a figment of the media's imagination.

FIFA vice-president Julio Grondona told the media to "stop bothering us" and accused the press of peddling lies. He was later backed by fellow executive committee member Angel Maria Villar Llona of Spain and several other delegates.

Recently, Blatter has tried to distance himself from the executive committee, pointing out that they are elected by their respective federations and not from within FIFA.

He said one of his first jobs for the Solutions Committee would be to look at changing the way in which executive committee members are chosen, a suggestion that seems certain to cause rumblings of discontent.

Blatter said: "I do not expect any more battles, now we are going into a new period of FIFA transparency. I think the message was clear for all the associations."